Hailing from the rural expanses of Central Jersey, IMBALA is a group that refuses to adhere to conventional wisdom. In the dank dungeons of their rehearsal stronghold and without a vocalist, they have forged a sound that fuses the stylings of jam, funk, and hardcore in a versatile concoction of brutal breakdowns, polyrhythmic jams, and funky toe-tappin’ melodies. To this hellish instrumental hybrid they've bestowed the name “Junkcore” (jazz-funk-hardcore) and thus a unique and utterly engaging sound has been born.
Formed in late 2005, they have quickly made a name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Tri-State area, capturing crowds with their frenzied live sets, sometimes playing for up to an hour non-stop. IMBALA have melted faces in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Baltimore, including the Stone Pony, The Trocadero, Northstar Bar, The Kyhber, The Note, and Doc Watson’s Pub where they were featured artists on 93.3 WMMR’s Local Shots Live. IMBALA has also been featured on Comcast OnDemand’s Battle of the Bands, and are currently Finalists in the Philly Showdown $10,000 Battle of the Bands presented by Jersey Shows on February 5th, 2011 at The Trocadero. They have played with bands such as 40 Below Summer, All Parallels, Consider the Source, Enstride, Infinien, Stillicide, Ebu GoGo, Jerseyband, and The Defog, among many, many others. On November 13th, 2010, IMBALA released their first album entitled "Simplexity," a conceptual masterpiece which can be purchased on iTunes globally.
Aside from the expansive universe around them, IMBALA looks to a wide-array of artists like the RX Bandits, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Les Claypool, Umphrey’s McGee, Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, Grüvis Malt, and Mr. Bungle for inspiration. Above all, IMBALA is intent on creating creative creations…so keep your Eyes open, your Ears tuned, and your Minds clear.
